Maritime industry

With a long and proud maritime heritage, the UK remains a major force in the international shipping industry, and commercial shipping is a significant contributor to the economy of this country.

Seafaring offers a stimulating, fulfilling and well-paid career for people who enjoy the associated challenges and responsibility, and who want more from a career than the usual ‘nine to five’ routine. 

A career at sea brings with it a wealth of opportunity, providing individuals with the training and experience for a lifetime of rewarding challenges, which in the longer term can be continued either at sea or ashore.

While many will aspire to reach the ranks of captain, chief engineer, chief electro-technical officer or hotel operations manager on board ship, others may decide later on to move ashore and pursue one of the many opportunities available to experienced mariners in the international maritime industry or elsewhere. 

Examples of some typical shore based career opportunities include:

• ship management and fleet operations
• surveying ships to check seaworthiness
• ports and harbour management and pilotage
• lecturer in college, training the seafarers of the future
• maritime regulatory authorities
• ship repair and marine equipment production
• marine insurance
• ship broking and finance
• ship classification
• maritime law and arbitration
• offshore exploration.

British officers with UK MCA certificates of competency enjoy a very good reputation in the industry throughout the world, which greatly increases future job opportunities. Technical and managerial skills learned at sea are readily transferable and can be developed by further training.

Career path map

There is also a useful maritime industry career path map for the United Kingdom, which shows the many different areas for employment within the industry.

Maritime industry career path map for the United Kingdom